Reusable hinged-lid shipping/storage box

ABSTRACT

A box has a pair of cover halves having inner edges pivoted at hinges and outer edges each formed with a plurality of projecting tabs and a plurality of complementary seats. The cover halves are pivotal between a coplanar closed position with the tabs half fitting complementarily in the seats and an open position extending nonparallel to each other and with the outer edges spaced from each other. The cover halves have at ends of their outer edges corners that are closely juxtaposed with the side walls in the closed position. Latches at each of the corners are each formed by a tongue projecting generally radially outward relative to the respective axis from one of the cover halves and a hole open only radially of the respective axis on the other of the cover halves. Each tongue fits in the respective hole in the closed position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a box for shipping and/or storing goods. More particularly this invention concerns such a box that has a two-part permanently mounted hinged cover and that is intended for reuse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A standard shipping/storage box of the high-security type typically has as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,161,261 and 4,432,467 a floor and side walls forming an upwardly open vessel. Upper, edges of the side walls are permanently hinged to cover halves or flaps that each extend somewhat past a centerline of the top. The cover halves have interdigitating formations that lock them together when the box is closed, and a security strap or padlock can often be fitted through the cover halves and a lip of the box to secure the contents. In addition, when empty, the cover halves can be pivoted back so that the empty boxes can nest. The side walls may also be hinged at edges of the floor so the entire box can be flattened out to make it compact when it is not in use and/or is empty.

[0003] Such boxes are subjected to relatively rough handling that can, under some circumstances, separate the interdigitating outer edges of the cover halves from each other. In particular, it is possible for the outer edges to slip parallel to the planes of the respective cover halves relative to each other, becoming so misaligned that the contents of the box are exposed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved storage/shipping box.

[0005] Another object is the provision of such an improved storage/shipping box which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which will stay solidly closed when the cover halves are fitted together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A box has according to the invention floor and side walls, a pair of parallel and spaced hinges at upper edges of the side walls and defining respective generally parallel hinge axes, and respective cover halves having inner edges pivoted at the hinges and outer edges each formed with a plurality of outwardly projecting tabs and a plurality of outwardly open complementary seats. The cover halves are pivotal about the respective axes between a generally coplanar closed position with the tabs of the outer edge of each cover half fitting complementarily in the seats of the outer edge of the other cover half and an open position extending nonparallel to each other from the respective axes and with the outer edges spaced from each other. The cover halves have at ends of their outer edges corners that are closely juxtaposed with the side walls in the closed position. Latches at each of the corners are each formed by a tongue projecting generally radially outward relative to the respective axis from one of the cover halves and a hole open only radially of the respective axis on the other of the cover halves. Each tongue fits in the respective hole in the closed position.

[0007] Thus when the two cover halves are engaged together the latches will effectively prevent relative displacement of the two outer edges perpendicular to the planes and parallel to the axes of the cover halves. None of the shifting of the prior-art boxes is possible, particularly when boxes of this type are stacked atop one another.

[0008] According to a further feature of the invention one corner of each outer edge has the tongue and the other corner of each outer edge has the hole. It is also possible to provide both tongues on one outer edge and both holes on the other. Each tongue and each hole are of generally square cross section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PR-AWING

[0009] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a top view of the box according to the invention with the cover open;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a large-scale view of the detail indicated at II in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the region where corners of the cover halves in a partially closed position;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the FIG. 3 region in a fully closed position; and

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the box according to the invention fully closed.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

[0015] As seen in FIG. 1 a reusable shipping/storage box 1 according to the invention basically has a rectangular and normally horizontal floor 2 from which two long side walls 3 and two short end walls 4 extend upward. These walls 3 and 4 could be hinged on the floor wall 2.

[0016] Upper edges of the side walls 3 are provided with hinges 5 that define respective parallel hinge axes 5A and that carry respective planar cover flaps or halves 6 a and 6 b each having an outer edge formed with three tabs 7 a that project radially of the respective axis 5A past a centerline of the box 1 and three complementary seats 8 a in which the tabs 7 a fit. The two cover halves 6 a and 6 b thus meet at a generally sinusoidal line 9.

[0017] In accordance with the invention the cover halves 6 a and 6 b are locked together at their outer corners by latches 10 each comprising a pin or tongue 11 projecting in the plane of the respective half 6 a or 6 b from the outer edge thereof at one of its corners and a complementary pocket or hole 12 opening also parallel to the cover-half plane at the opposite corner. When the two cover halves 6 a and 6 b are closed together, each tongue 11 engages in the hole 12 of the opposite one of the halves 6 a and 6 b, thereby locking the cover halves 6 a and 6 b at the corners against relative shifting, in particular parallel to the side walls 3 or the axes 5A of the hinges 5 as well as perpendicular to the plane of the cover flaps 6 a and 6 b, which is generally the same as the plane of the axes 5A of the two hinges 5. 

I claim:
 1. A box comprising: floor and side walls; a pair of parallel and spaced hinges at upper edges of the side walls and defining respective generally parallel hinge axes; respective cover halves having inner edges pivoted at the hinges and outer edges each formed with a plurality of outwardly projecting tabs and a plurality of outwardly open complementary seats, the cover halves being pivotal about the respective axes between a generally coplanar closed position with the tabs of the outer edge of each cover half fitting complementarily in the seats of the outer edge of the other cover half and an open position extending, nonparallel to each other from the respective axes and with the outer edges spaced from each other, the cover halves having at ends of their outer edges corners that are closely juxtaposed with the side walls in the closed position; latches at each of the corners and each comprised of a tongue projecting generally radially outward relative to the respective axis from one of the cover halves and a hole open only radially of the respective axis on the other of the cover halves, each tongue fitting in the respective hole ir the closed position.
 2. The box defined in claim 1 wherein one corner of each outer edge has the tongue and the other corner of each outer edge has the hole.
 3. The box defined in claim 1 wherein each tongue and each hole are of generally square cross section. 